Just about everyone makes at least one new year resolution. I am famous for making resolutions and not keeping them. But this year I have made a resolution that is so easy all of you can do it. Create new adventures! This year I want to challenge everyone to spend more time outside trying new things and visiting new places.
In 2013, I am going to spend more time away from the hustle of everyday life and create new adventures outside. For me, a good hike can cure the body and soul. There are not many things that are more calming and peaceful than a hike on a secluded trail.
So this year, my new adventures will focus on visiting new parks and trails I have never been to before. As you start developing your own new adventures here are some of my tips for any beginner hiker:
Wear the correct clothing. There is nothing worse than getting half way through a hike and realize you are getting a blister from your shoes or you jacket is not keeping your warm
Know your physical limitations. Start slow and short and increase your mileage as you get more active.
Tell someone where you are headed. Even if you are going out for a short trip, someone should know which trail you’re on. Consider taking a partner if you’re headed somewhere more isolated.
Don’t start a hike late in the day. Always allow yourself more time to finish a trail than you actually think it will take.
Bring the right equipment. This goes along with the correct clothing. Having the right gear with you can turn a life or death circumstance into a manageable situation. Some basic gear you should have is:
Good backpack
Food
Water
Flashlight
Fire starter
Basic medical kit
Make sure you bring a map. Most state and national parks will have a map of all the trails that you can pick up for free. Some trails will not be marked as well you anticipate and a map will be critical for finding your way.
Do a little research before you head out. Know the terrain and environment before you get to the trail head. By doing your research you will also know what you should wear and what you should pack. Do you need a rain jacket and water proof shoes or should you leave the jacket at home because the temperature will be scorching hot?
Don’t feed the animals. You may think it’s fine to feed the animals, but remember these are not your neighborhood cats and dogs, these are wild animals. Have you ever tried to give an eager dog a treat and it accidentally got your finger? Wild animals are no different. And wild animals are more likely to carry diseases that can be carried to humans.
Stay on the path. The paths were created for a reason, to keep people on safe terrain. Don’t become to adventures and try to blaze your own trail. Some parks can actually enforce fines if they find you outside of a designated trail.
Respect the trails. Follow the rules and guidelines provided by the park you are visiting. Don’t litter, don’t remove other natural items or be overly noisy when hiking. Use this time to enjoy your surroundings, letting Mother Nature speak to your senses and spirit.
The XT10 was a really great step for Klarus, a new brand that at the time was able to launch itself into the flashlight market with a great and incredibly reliable flashlight. Now, they have improved on the already impeccable light by introducing the Klarus XT11. Unlike the previous model, the XT11 has an upgraded XML-LED with the new U2, which boosts the lumen output up to an incredible 600 lumens. Another improvement can be found in the new integrative lens of the light, which can be swapped out for a blue, green, red, or frosted lens depending on the required color. Where great things were added to the XT11, Klarus also left the good qualities from the previous XT10 untouched, such as the dual switch on the tail cap and the edged tactical ring to prevent the light from rolling.
Another high end product from our own Numyth brand, we present to you the Aether Titanium Toothpick. Not just for picking out the parts of food in between your teeth, the Aether was made from titanium alloy, which is great for any kind of medical use thanks to titanium’s natural resistance to oxidation from water or other fluids. The toothpick comes in a titanium case with two separate caps. The purpose for the dual cap is that the tootpick can be exposed by either a minimal amount at the tip (one of the ends of the tootpick is threaded which allows it to remain attached to the cap), or can be removed entirely. The casing for the Aether is fitted with a stainless steel split ring, making it easy to attach to a keychain or zipper if needed be.
Unlike our typical review videos about flashlights, we decided to stray away from the norm on this review of our very own battery capsule: the Talos. This capsule was designed by us (flashlight junkies) with the flashlight junkie in mind: a water-tight capsule that can easily attach to anything and is almost indestructible. This case can be submerged, and still keep the batteries dry thanks to the seal given to the device by the O-ring placement on the top. If you like the capsule, but want to be able to store more batteries, there are optional extenders that you can add to the Talos that will allow the casing to contain more batteries, and it will not compromise the waterproofing since the extenders have the O-rings as well. The Talos: innovative, sleek, indestructible (almost), and waterproof.
For those that have used the JETBeam RRT-2 before and loved its tactical style and features: it’s back, and it has a new LED bulb. The LED from the light has been upgraded from the previous R5 LED to a CREE XM-L LED, which has bumped the lumen output up to 460 lumens along with a hybrid style reflector that gives it a greater amount of flood and throw. Everything else about the RRT-2 has been kept the same with its magnetic-controlled ramping ring and deep toothed bezel, which allows the light to be used as a glass breaker or defense tool while keeping the lens protected from drops. The light can use two CR123s/two 16340′s or one 18650 Lithium Ion battery.
The Surefire M3LT-S is one of Surefire’s brightest lights, and definitely one of the best throwers out right now.
The video below features the 400 lumen version, but we no longer sell that particular light. The newer version that we do stock is rated at 800 lumens, so it is twice as bright as its predecessor. The “S” on the end of the name lets you know that this version has the strobe feature. The M3LT utilizes Surefire’s TIR (total internal reflection) lens giving it a very high quality and concentrated beam. The TIR reflector allows the beam to stay focused enough to be usable at 100 yards and beyond. The M3LT is powered by 3 CR123 primary batteries, allowing you almost 2 hours of run time on max brightness.
While it isn’t something you’d want in your pocket all day, the M3LT is definitely a useful light. If you’re out and about during the night very often you’d be glad to have this flashlight with you; darkness fears the M3LT!
When you absolutely need to make fire now and the conditions aren’t ideal, you need a product like UCO Storm Proof Matches. These things will light and continue to burn no matter what. It’s actually pretty amazing.
These UCO matches will light in any condition you can imagine and will continue to burn for up to 15 seconds. They will burn even if they are smothered, completely submerged under water, or exposed to gale force winds. When UCO says storm proof, they mean it. If you are an avid outdoors-man, or even a preparation oriented person, you know the importance of being able to make fire when it is needed most. Fire is the universal survival tool; it has so many uses that being unable to create it is not an option.
UCO matches make a perfect addition to a bug out bag or small survival kit. Come to think of it, they are a perfect item for pretty much any kit. If you still aren’t quite convinced, watch the video and behold the inextinguishable fire.
The Zebralight SC51w is the neutral white version of the incredible SC51. The SC51 is an amazing every day carry light due to its small size, great output, and reliance on very common batteries.
The SC51 is actually optimized to run best on either alkaline or NiMh batteries, meaning when your light goes dead you won’t have to go hunting for an expensive and sometimes hard to find lithium battery. This tiny little light is capable of putting out 172 lumens on high, giving you plenty of light for most any task you can throw at it. The neutral white tint of this SC51 gives much better color rendition than the cool white version. Instead of having a blueish or even greenish tint, you will get a true white color that is not seen with very many LED’s. Other than the tint of the LED and the max output, everything else is the same as the regular version of the SC51. You still have 6 different brightness settings and the same high quality body.
If you’re looking for a flashlight that can fit just about anywhere that is still amazingly bright, then look no further. The SC51w is one of those flashlights that just plain works.
As you can see from the extra long title, this review covers the satin limited edition version of the Quark 123 turbo. This light was very similar to the regular production Quark 123 turbo, but it did have a few keys differences.
Most noticeably, the finish is different. 4Sevens gave this light a very attractive satin finish on the already good looking titanium. A little less noticeable is the emitter. Instead of the regular R5 LED, the satin Quark had the fairly rare S3 LED. In practical use the different LED might not make a huge difference in brightness, but the rarity of the emitter makes it highly sought after to enthusiasts. The user interface is the same as the regular production models of the Quark 123 turbo; no big change there. Overall it is the little details that set this limited edition version apart from the production model.
Unfortunately, this light has been sold out for a while now. 4Sevens limited edition lights usually go pretty quickly, but there is always the chance that they may decide to do another run. The production model is in stock at our store if you decide you can’t live without one after you watch the video.
Lights like the Fenix TK35 were unheard of just a few years ago. Even if you knew of a flashlight that had this kind of performance, it would have cost you an arm and a leg. It’s a good time to be a flashlight enthusiast. The technology that makes mega output lights like the TK35 possible is fairly new, and it is evolving every day.
The TK35 uses either 4 CR123 batteries, or 2 rechargeable 18650s. Thanks to new technology the TK35 can take the supplied power and turn it into 820 screaming lumens, while still being smaller than a typical Mag light. Its amazing output makes it perfect for just about any outdoor task you can throw at it. If you need less light but a long run time, the TK35 can do that too. At 109 lumens on medium, which is still very bright, this light will run for 16 hours.
Ridiculous brightness and versatility makes the TK35 one of my personal favorites, and the price is just icing on the cake. Since you can’t see it in person, watch the video below. It won’t take long for you to understand what makes this such a great flashlight.
